Tau Beta Sigma
| Tau Beta Sigma | |
|---|---|
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ΤΒΣ
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| Founded | March 26, 1946 [1] Oklahoma State University |
| Type | Recognition[2] |
| Scope | National |
| Motto | "Tau Beta Sigma for Greater Bands" |
| Colors |
White Blue |
| Flower | Red "American Beauty" rose, long-stemmed |
| Publication |
The PODIUM (1947–Present) The Baton (1947) |
| Chapters | 140 active, 234 chartered |
| Colonies | 1 |
| Members | 3,800 collegiate 47,000+ lifetime |
| Headquarters | Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA |
| Homepage | http://www.tbsigma.org |
Tau Beta Sigma, National Honorary Band Sorority (ΤΒΣ, colloquially referred to as TBSigma or TBS) is a co-educational national honorary band sorority dedicated to serving college and university bands. The Sorority, headquartered at the historic Stillwater Station in Stillwater, Oklahoma, numbers over 3,500 active members in 145 active chapters, and over 40,000 alumni. Since 1947, Tau Beta Sigma has recognized Kappa Kappa Psi as "an equal affiliated organization with a parallel purpose, function and role in the college and university band setting", and the two organizations hold joint conventions and Tau Beta Sigma administers an alumni association open to members of both organizations.
Tau Beta Sigma was founded at Texas Technological College (now Texas Tech University) by Mrs. Wava Banes (Turner Henry).[1] Due to corporation laws in the state of Texas at the time, however, the Texas Tech sisters surrendered their name, ritual, jewellery, constitution and Alpha Chapter designation to the local band sorority at Oklahoma State University.[1] This had the additional effect of locating both of the Tau Beta Sigma and Kappa Kappa Psi Alpha chapters at the same school.
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[edit] History
[edit] Ties to other organizations
In addition to the close relationship with Kappa Kappa Psi, Tau Beta Sigma has historical and current relationships with several other organizations. One such relationship is with Sigma Alpha Iota, a professional international fraternity for women with a strong interest in music.
In 1999, joint statements were issued by the leadership of Tau Beta Sigma and Sigma Alpha Iota, along with Kappa Kappa Psi and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, affirming "that there are equally important roles for Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Sigma Alpha Iota, Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma to fulfill on any campus where our chapters mutually exist, now or in the future. Each organization possesses a distinct mission and, as a result, fulfills a unique and vital role in the musical environment of a college campus" and that "A member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia or Sigma Alpha Iota can hold simultaneous membership in Kappa Kappa Psi or Tau Beta Sigma, subject to his/her own interests and the eligibility requirements of the other organizations. The same holds true for a member of Kappa Kappa Psi or Tau Beta Sigma with regard to membership in Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia or Sigma Alpha Iota."[3]
[edit] National leadership
[edit] National headquarters
Originally located on the campus of Oklahoma State University, the National Headquarters of Tau Beta Sigma is housed in Stillwater Station, a retired railway station in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Open Monday to Friday, the headquarters carries out the day-to-day operations of the Sorority.
The headquarters staff includes:[4]
- Executive Director: Lt. Col. Alan Bonner, USAF (ret.)
- National Headquarters Office Manager and Accountant: Diana Spiva
- National Membership Services Coordinator: Debbie Morris
- National Publications Manager: Nick Smith
- National Alumni, Chapter and Colony Affairs Coordinators: Aaron Moore
[edit] National officers
The current national officers of Tau Beta Sigma (serving a 2011-2013 term) are:
- National President: Dawn Farmer, Omega
- National Vice President for Colonization and Membership: Dr. Nicole Burdick, Delta Eta
- National Vice President for Special Projects: Kevin Earnest, Gamma Mu
- National Vice President for Communication & Recognition: Jonathan Markowski, Delta Delta
- National Vice President for Professional Relations: Dr. Debra Traficante, Honorary-Southwest District
[edit] Board of trustees
There are currently ten members of the Tau Beta Sigma Board of Trustees. The seven voting members comprise six elected Trustees and the immediate past National President. The six elected Trustees are elected at each biennial convention for a four-year term, with three seats coming open at each convention. The three non-voting members of the Board consist of the current National President and two life members: Mrs. Wava Banes Henry, founder of the Sorority, and Mrs. Janet West Miller, past National President and long-time activist on behalf of the Sorority.
The current Board consists of:
- Kelly T. Eidson, Beta Sigma (Chair)
- Chris M. Gordon, Psi (Vice Chair)
- Lisa Croston, Alpha
- David Hammond, Delta Omicron
- Melanie L. Meehan, Delta Delta
- Kris Wright, Omega
- Dollie McDonald O'Neill, Psi (Immediate Past National President)
- Dawn Farmer, Omega (National President)
- Janet West Miller, Iota (Life Member)
- Wava Banes Henry, Beta (Founder & Life Member)
[edit] Districts
Tau Beta Sigma is divided into seven geographical areas known as districts: Northeast, Southeast, North Central, Midwest, Southwest, Western, and International (a hypothetical district comprising all chapters outside the United States, although there are not and never have been any such). Each district is led by one or more Counselors appointed by the National President, as well as a council elected from and by the members of the Districts.
District Counselors are regional advisors for the Sorority. They actively work with each district's student leadership and communicate with chapter sponsors. District Counselors are appointed by the National President for two-year terms, and are currently limited to serving three terms.
The districts are as follows:
| District | Counselor(s) | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Southwest | Erika Pope, Theta Theta | Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas |
| Southeast | Crystal Wright, Reneé Cartee, Zeta Psi | Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee |
| North Central | Carolyn McCambridge, Alpha Xi | Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin |
| Midwest | Adrienne Rall, Theta Mu | Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming |
| Northeast | Nicole Kemp, Zeta Upsilon | Connecticut, Delaware, Washington, D.C., Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia |
| Western | Trevor Angood, Lambda | Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington |
| International | N/A | Outside USA |
[edit] Notable members
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This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (May 2011) |
Famous Tau Beta Sigma members include:
- Debra Dene Barnes (Miss America 1968)
- William "Count" Basie (musician)
- Karen Carpenter (singer)
- Richard Carpenter (singer)
- John Denver (singer)
- Maynard Ferguson (musician)
- Wynton Marsalis (musician)
- Alfred Reed (composer)
- Carl "Doc" Severinsen (musician)
- Red Skelton (entertainer)
- Dionne Warwick (singer)
- Pauline Oliveros (composer) Founder of Tau Chapter[2]
- Velvet Brown (tubist)
- Sheila E. (percussionist)
- Roberta Flack (singer)
- Johnnie Walker (music industry powerhouse)
- Patricia Prattis Jennings (pianist)
- Queen Latifah (actress, rapper)
- Alicia Keyes (singer, recording artist)
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- ^ a b c "Tau Beta Sigma History". Tau Beta Sigma. http://www.tbsigma.org/history.html. Retrieved 2010-03-19.
- ^ a b http://www.tbsigma.org/Manuals/2007TBS-GuideToMembership.pdf
- ^ "Joint Statements of Kappa Kappa Psi and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and of Kappa Kappa Psi, Tau Beta Sigma, Sigma Alpha Iota, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia". Alpha Chapter, Kappa Kappa Psi. Archived from the original on 2006-12-15. http://web.archive.org/web/20061215041233/http://www.orgs.okstate.edu/kkp/generalinfo.htm. Retrieved 2007-04-02.
- ^ "Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma Headquarters Staff". Kappa Kappa Psi & Tau Beta Sigma. http://www.kkytbs.org/hqstaff.html. Retrieved 2010-12-21.
